In the British crime thriller MobLand, Conrad Harrigan, the boss of the series’ central crime organization, is always mean to Paul. From what viewers have seen, Paul is a high-ranking henchman in the Harrigan empire.
Conrad has utilized Paul to spy on Harry’s wife, Jan. On another occasion, it was Paul who planted the bomb in Vron Stevenson’s car after receiving the order from the Harrigan family. But even after being a competent part of the family’s crime dealings, Conrad always finds ways to be mean to him.
Why is MobLand’s Conrad so mean to Paul all the time?
The reason behind MobLand’s Conrad being mean to Paul on many occasions could hint at something deeper about his relationship with Maeve. For viewers, the scenes featuring Paul and Conrad often serve as comic relief.
In Episode 9, Conrad dismisses Paul when he comes to inform him about Bella leaving the Cotswolds to attend to her personal business. But within minutes, the patriarch of the Harrigan household becomes angry at Paul for not giving him the information earlier. Paul acknowledges Conrad’s misplaced aggression with a simple note: “That was mean.”
Later, Conrad goes to meet Jaime Lopez with a small team, including Harry, Paul, and Seraphina. Pierce Brosnan‘s character orders beverages for Harry and Seraphina but does not acknowledge Paul.
Inside the small cabin, Paul opens a bag of crisps in a tense situation where Conrad and Jaime are meeting face-to-face for the first time. Conrad glares at Paul almost as a warning to “read the room.”
While Paul and Conrad’s edgy dynamic provides a humorous moment in the drama, there could be more to their relationship. From the past episodes, viewers have learned that Paul takes orders from both Maeve and Conrad and occasionally Harry (Tom Hardy).
So, Conrad’s anger towards Paul may be reflective of his attitude of not holding enough power in the house. Maeve has made it evident that she is the one pulling the strings. With Paul often “independently” working with Maeve, Conrad feels that the former is undermining his authority.
MobLand viewers took to Reddit to discuss Paul’s contribution to the Harrigan business. One fan joked, “He’s talented in being on the receiving end of Conrad’s hilariously subtle roasts.” A second fan noted, “Everything he does with his facial expressions are hilarious!”
